The importance of supporting products from an R and D manufacturer

UK - October 13, 2010



A leading independent agronomist and an Agrochemical Manager from a prominent Farmer Buying Group are clear that there are compelling reasons to use Kerb Flo  - there is much more at stake with propzamide than a cheap alternative.

Lindy Blanchard, Agrochemical Manager for Woldmarsh Producers, a farmer-owned buying group with 750 farmers in Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire Leicestershire and Cambridgeshire, is fully behind the Kerb brand as she is assured of its high quality and excellent formulation that her members expect.  "But an equally compelling reason for me to continue to support R and D manufacturers such as Dow AgroSciences is that we are helping to invest in the future.  It is only R and D companies that are able to innovate and only such companies that are in a position to invest in new chemistry and new technology, which is the life blood of any industry.  Only R and D companies can also support their products with effective Stewardship, ensuring that their products are used safely and effectively."

Lindy explains that she does a great deal of planning for agrochemical needs well in advance of the season, working with R and D manufacturers such as Dow AgroSciences as well as over 30 independent crop advisors to establish farmers needs.  "I want to provide our members with the right products at the right time and ones that we know have the right pedigree when it comes to specification and formulation.  Farmers want quality products with a known provenance."

Award winning independent consultant agronomist advising farmers in Lincolnshire, Sean Sparling agrees.  "For example Dow AgroSciences formulations are always first class.  You know that their products will be of the highest quality and consistent in their formulation.  Kerb is a fantastic, easy to use formulation that you know will mix well and can be relied upon to do a good job.  This is not always the case for the generics."

"I know other agronomists and growers who have chosen to go down the generic route have had problems getting the stuff out of the can, and then getting it out of the sprayer - particularly in cooler weather."

"Mixing is often even more of a challenge, along with huge variability in efficacy.  For this reason, amongst others, I am not a fan of generics and would always choose to recommend genuine formulations of Kerb," he says.

Sean Sparling also feels that by using a brand such as Kerb, he benefits from the extensive and helpful technical support provided.  "The R and D companies provide the necessary level of support and information to make sure that the product is applied correctly and safely.  I can get live information on soil temperatures and moisture deficits on Dow's web site.  Kerb needs to be used when it is cool enough and should not be applied to water-logged soils or if heavy rain is expected, so this information helps me time my applications correctly.  I recommend its use when soil temperatures are declining, usually around the beginning of November, and when weeds are quite small at the 3 leaf stage."

Sean also rates the up-to-date advice on tank-mixing and advice on the latest thinking on minimising any risk to water provided by Dow AgroSciences.

Sean Sparling is in no doubt that Stewardship of propyzamide is very important.  "We must look after this product and use it responsibly and safely in order to safeguard its future.  I only use it when it needs to be used and only when I can expect the best results. Without propyzamide, growing rape in high black-grass situations would become an almost insurmountable challenge.  The loss of Kerb would be a massive loss to UK agriculture and catastrophic from a black-grass angle, so we need to take very good care of it," he says.

Sean Sparling advises on 21,000 acres of arable land, with between 4,000 and 5,000 acres of oilseed rape.  "My area is set right in the middle of some of the most difficult black-grass - high initial populations are common and resistance to many herbicides including Atlantis is becoming widespread.  I have to look for different chemistry across the rotation to maintain high levels of control of black-grass or we would be in a real muddle with both yields and quality suffering.  One of the most significant ways of breaking the black-grass cycle is to grow oilseed rape and use Kerb.  It is a very valuable product in all respects and one that is essential in our grass-weed control programmes, now and in the future."

For further information, please contact Sean Sparling on 0790 260027 (mobile).